Three Degrees Of Pat Caputo

SAN JOSE, CA - MARCH 3: Joey MacDonald #31 of the Detroit Red Wings gets some help defending his goal from teammate Niklas Kronwall #55 against the San Jose Sharks in the second period of an NHL hockey game at the HP Pavilion on March 3, 2011 in San Jose, California. The Sharks won the game 3-1. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Three reasons the Red Wings should defeat the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference semifinals of the Stanley Cup playoffs:

1. The Red Wings, with their veteran leadership, are geared better than any other NHL team to play on the road in the playoffs. It should minimize the Sharks’ home ice advantage in the series.

2. The Sharks have never won the Stanley Cup. The Red Wings have won it four times since 1997. When the going gets tough in the series, confidence will be on the Red Wings’ side.

3. Pavel Datsyuk is the best hockey player in the world – and will prove it in this series.